Hyperbaric oxygen in crush syndrome.

EDITOR,—Andrew D Shaw and colleagues emphasise the urgent need for orthopaedic referral for the underlying problem of the compartment syndrome —namely, impending muscle necrosis.1 They do not mention the role of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen in this condition. Pathophysiologically, in the compartment syndromes ischaemia and oedema create a vicious circle in which hypoxia plays a central part. Partially viable tissues may recover if hypoxia is relieved. Treatment with …